Nick Parlante

Nick Parlante is a distinguished Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Stanford University who has transformed how programming is taught through innovative online platforms. As the creator of CodingBat, a free platform for Java and Python coding practice, he has made programming education accessible to students worldwide. At Stanford, he teaches foundational courses including Programming Methodology (CS106A) and Introduction to Python Programming (CS193Q), while also supervising numerous independent studies. His teaching philosophy emphasizes hands-on practice with immediate feedback, demonstrated through his development of online code-practice tools. Beyond his academic role at Stanford, where he maintains an office in Gates 190, Parlante works at Google and continues to innovate in computer science education. His current focus includes expanding CS106A materials into free learning resources and developing the Code in Place program, making Stanford-quality programming education available to a global audience. Through his various platforms and teaching methods, Parlante has established himself as a leading figure in democratizing computer science education.